Exploring the Meaning and Importance of Rituals

14min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

This chapter delves into the distinctions between routines, habits, and rituals, highlighting how rituals hold a deeper emotional significance. It discusses the prevalence of rituals in various aspects of life, from everyday actions to high-pressure situations like sports performances. The conversation touches on the role of rituals in providing comfort, control, and order in uncertain times for individuals, including athletes and children.

While religion may play less of a role in many people's lives, rituals--the lifeblood of religion--remain central to the human experience. Listen as Michael Norton of the Harvard Business School explains how and why rituals remain at the center of our lives--they give meaning to life-cycle events and secular holidays, calm our fears, and give us a sense of control when the pressure to perform can otherwise overwhelm us.